Malaysian Flight 370: Technology hindered, helped search

Malaysian Flight 370: Technology hindered, helped search

28 Mar, 2014

By: Scott Mayerowitz, AP Airlines Writer

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has presented two tales of modern technology.

The limitations of tracking and communications devices allowed the plane to vanish from sight for nearly three weeks. But satellites' advanced capabilities have provided hope that the mystery won't go unsolved.

In this day and age of constant connection, the public has been surprised to learn that radar and satellites aren't actually all-seeing, cellphone locations aren't always traceable and key data about the plane is only recorded, not transmitted in real time to the ground. And on board tracking systems can be disabled manually - one theory holds that someone in the cockpit intentionally diverted the plane and disguised their actions.